Qatar’s gravity-defying star Mutaz Barshim will have his dream 2017 season in mind when he begins his title defence at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships, today at the Khalifa International Stadium.
The two-time Olympic medalist literally won every title in which he competed two years ago including a gold medal at the World Championships in London. Barshim also became the first ever high jumper in the world to clinch the 2017 IAAF Athlete of the Year award after going undefeated in 11 competitions and producing nine of the year’s 11 highest jumps.
But the Olympic bronze and silver in 2012 and 2016 has been struggling to regain his golden form since returning to action following an injury that kept him in the sidelines for months during the 2018-2019 season.
“I was winning everything in 2017. That was an outstanding year for me,” Barshim said in an interview ahead of his contest at Doha Worlds.
In Gyulai Memorial in Székesfehérvár, Hungary, last year Barshim attempted a world record 2.46m world record. He was very close but ended clutching his ankle.
“What was crazy was when I got out of surgery, a few hours ago, I was trying to jump a world record, and a few hours later I couldn’t even walk,” he said.
Barshim said he will give his best to defend the title and make Qatar and the home fans proud.
“I’m a person that loves sports. I really love track and field. I like to be active. It was a big challenge having to do the most, with the least training. But hey, I’m here though! We’ve got one more target to go, at the World Championships. I hope for the best then,” said Barshim.
The Qatari star despite his struggle will appear in the high jump event as one of the favourites to win a gold medal. Among the entrants, 19 athletes have cleared 2.30m while only four of them have successfully sailed over 2.33m.
The world leader is Belarusian Maksim Nedasekau, the 21-year-old who improved to 2.35m to win the Europe-USA match in Minsk on 9 September, his only leap better than 2.30m this season.
Authorised neutral athletes Ilya Ivanyuk and Mikhail Akimenko have chiseled together good seasons, both topping 2.33m and 2.31m.
